Car construction



Sept. 6, 1938. o. c. DURYEA CAR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 2, 19363 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 6, 1938.

0. c. DURYEA CAR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 2, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet2 #Af rlm/ r Sept. 6, 1938.

CAR

Original Filed Oct. 2, 1956 xy l o. c. DURYEA' CONSTRUCTION 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES OF I 2,129,546 CARCONSTRUCTION Otho C. Duryea, Waterbury, oima, assignor to 0. C. Duryea.Corporation, Wilmington, Del.,

a corporation of Delaware 1 Application October 2, 1936, Serial .No.103,787

Renewed January 22, .1938

23 Claims.

This invention relates to railway car constructions having underframesof the Duryea type which provide long travel for resisting draft andbufling shocks with lowforces together with short 51 travel for trainslack which is predetermined independently of and is less than said longtravel. In one form which is Well known in the art, the Duryeaunderframe comprises a long travel draft and buliing column whichextends longi- 9; tudinally and slidably with respect to the car bodybolsters and couplers mounted at the ends of said column for limitedmovement relative thereto to provide train slack, long travel cushioningmeans being interposed between said col- 1 umn and the car body bolstersfor resisting and absorbing draft and bufiing forces.

The present invention relates more particularly to long travelcushioning means of the above type which comprise both friction andresilient means 20: for absorbing draft and buffing forces, and one ofits objects is to provide such long travel cushioning means which isconstructed in a novel manner so as to produce a strong and rugged yetsimple and inexpensive cushioning gear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel long travelcushion gear of the type embodying both friction and resilient meanswhich is disposed entirely or substantially entirely between the carbody bolster and the adjacent end of the car.

Another object is to provide a novel long travel cushioning gearembodying both friction. and resilient means and adapted to cushion thecar body against draft and buliing shocks and also 5. to cushion thetrain slack movement of the coupler.

A further object is to provide a combined bolster and cushion gearcomprising a novel long travel cushion gear embodying resilient andfriction means and housed in a casing or housing formed as a part of thebolster construction.

Another object is to provide a novel integral construction comprisingboth a bolster and a housing.

Other objects will appear more fully hereinafter as the descriptionproceeds.

One embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings but it is to be expressly understood that said drawings are forpurposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as adefinition-of the limits of the invention, reference being had to theappended claims for this purpose.

In the drawings,

Figs. 1 and 10, together constitute a plan. view, partly in section, ofone end of a car underframe embodying the invention;

2 and 2a together constitute a vertical section on the central line ofthe construction 60 shown in Figs. 1 and 1a; i

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2a; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2a..

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate likeparts, the-car body (not shown) is provided with suitable body bolsterswhereby the car is supported on the usual trucks and. which usuallyembody center brace castings one of-which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 ati0. Extending longitudinally and slidably with respect to saidcenter'brace casting I is a draft and buffing column which may be of anysuitable type and construction and which in the form shown comprises twospaced channels ll, ll that embrace the casting l0 and are connectedtogether at suitable points by means of top and bottom cover plates! 2and I3, respectively. Adjacent the casting II), where cover platescannot be employed, said column may be strengthened by the provision ofplates I4 (Fig. secured in any suitable manner as by welding between theedges of the flanges of said channels II, II.

A suitable coupler l (Figs. 1a and 2a) is mounted at the end of saidcolumn, preferably for limited movement relative thereto to providetrain slack. The extent of such train slack movement can bepredetermined andmade as small as desired, and in the form shown saidcoupler is mounted so as to be movable inwardly with respect to saidcolumn through a short distance, say about one inch or less, whichprovides train slack on buif, but so as to be incapable of outwardmovement with respect to said column so that no train slack is providedon draft. A suitable construction of this type is shown in Figs. 1a and20., wherein a coupler of the swivel butt type is shown. As shown inthese figures, the shank of the coupler I 5 extends inwardly between thechannels I I, II and is provided with a slot through which extends a keyI6 retained in position by a head I! and a pin l8. The longitudinaldimension of said slot is greater than the dimension of said key so asto provide a space H) as shown in Fig. 1. Laterally of the couplershank, said key extends through openings in the webs of the channels II, I I, and to provide greater strength. cheek plates 20 are preferablysecured to said channels in any suitable manner as by welding, saidcheek plates being provided with strengthening flanges 2| which surroundand define slots therethrough in alignment with the openings in saidchannel webs. The longitudinal dimensions of these slots are greaterthan the dimensions of the key l6 so as to provide spaces 22 shown inFig. 1. The butt of the coupler terminates in spaced parallel webs 23which are interleaved with similar spaced parallel webs 24 of a swivelcasting 25; the contacting ends of webs 23 and being curved about thecenter of a vertical pin 25. On draft, the draft force is transmittedfrom the coupler butt through the pin 25, the swivel casting 25, key I6and flanges 2| to the column II, II. On buff, the bufling force movesthe coupler and swivel casting 25 inwardly relative to said columnthrough a distance limited as hereinafter described and less,

than the sum of spaces I9 and 22, which relative movement provides trainslack on buff only.

Means are provided whereby the inward movement of the coupler I5relative to the draft and buffing column, as well as further inwardmovement of said coupler and column and outward movement of said couplerand column, is resisted both resiliently and frictionally. To this endfriction wedge means are provided that move relative'to' said column oninward movement of the coupler I5 relative thereto and together withsaid column on further inward movement and on outward movement of saidcoupler, together with resilient means that are compressed on inward andoutward movement of said coupler or column. Thus train slack movement ofthe coupler and long travel cushioning movement are resisted bycompression of said resilient means, which may also be utilized tomaintain frictional engagement between suitable friction elements andsaid wedge means whereby draft and buffing forces are resisted bothfrictionally and resiliently.

In the form shown, said wedge means comprise longitudinally extendingplates havingfriction surfaces on their outer sides whereby they engagefrictionally with the column H, II and inclined wedge surfaces on theirinner sides which are in frictional engagement with suitable frictionshoes. The arrangement of said wedge surfaces may be such as to providefor equal frictional effect in both directions of movement of thecoupler from a normal position, or otherwise,

and the wedge surfaces may be so inclined asto provide greaterresistance to movement of said column away from normal position thantoward normal position, or vice versa. In the form shown, the wedgemeans comprise plates 26 having plane outer friction surfaces inengagement with the inner faces of the webs of the channels II, II andinner inclined wedge surfaces which increase in height in oppositedirections from their central portions. As shown in Fig. 1a, the outerfriction surfaces of said wedges 26 are preferably provided withvertical slots or grooves 21 whereby any chips formed during thefrictional action of the cushioning gear can escape from between thewedges and the channels. For causing inward movement of said wedges 26as a unit with the coupler I5, said wedges are shown as integrallyconnected by ahead 28 having a central projection 29 that engages in asimilar recess in the swivel casting 25. Said wedges 26 are accordinglymoved relatively to the column I I, I I on inward movement of saidcoupler relative to said column for train slack purposes. Beyond saidlimited coupler movement, however, means are provided whereby both thewedges 26 and the column II, II are moved inwardly as a unit by thecoupler, this end being accomplished in the form shown by providing thehead 28 with upper and lower flanges 30 adapted to engage upper andlower stop plates 3| secured to the channels II. The total train slackmovement of the coupler is thus determined by the spacing betweenflanges 30 and plates 3I.

Inward movement of the coupler I5, wedges 26 and column II, II isfurther resisted frictionally by engagement between the inner wedgesurfaces thereof and suitable friction shoes that are held againstlongitudinal movement in any suitable manner. In the form shown, eachwedge 26 is engaged by two friction shoes 32 one on each side of thecentral portion of said wedge, said shoes as shown in Fig. 1a. beingsubstantially triangular in cross section and being held againstlongitudinal movement by vertical walls 33 forming a substantiallydiamond-shaped friction member that is secured to the car body in anysuitable manner. For maintaining the friction member againstlongitudinal movement it is preferably connected with the car bodybolster, and in the construction shown in the drawings, this isaccomplished by forming said friction member as an integral part of thecenter brace casting I0, the longitudinally extending connectionsbetween said castings forming a housing for the cushioning gear. Asshownin Figs. 1, 1a, 2 and 2a, the casting I6 is provided with upper andlower longitudinally extending horizontal arms 36 which extend laterallyclose to the webs of the channels II, said arms 36 constituting top andbottom walls which are connected by the vertical walls 33. Arms 36 andwalls 33 can be secured to said casting I0 and to each other in anysuitable manner as by welding or may be cast integrally. Accordingly,this construction provides bolster construction II] integral with ahousing formed by the horizontal arms 36 and with the vertical walls 33,whereby the friction shoes 32 and the resilient means hereinafterdescribed are carried and housed.

Movement of the coupler I5, wedges 26 and column I I, I I is alsoresisted by suitable resilient means which are operatively connectedwith the friction shoes 32, suitable connections being provided wherebysaid resilient means is compressed against the inner shoes 32 or outershoes 32 depending on whether the wedges 26 move outwardly or inwardly.Preferably, said resilient means is disposed in the housing constitutedas described above and comprises a coil spring 31, the inner end ofwhich may if desired extend through a suitable opening in the centerbrace casting III as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,said inner end of spring 31.

rests against a follower plate 38 that is engaged by a head 39 of a link40 extending longitudinally through the entire length of said spring andthrough suitable openings in the vertical walls, said link 40 beingprovided at its other end with a key 4| engaging the outer frictionshoes 32. As shown, the ends of the key are provided with wear pads 42pivotally mounted on said key in any suitable manner at 43 and engagingthe outer faces of said friction shoes 32. Spring 31 thereby holds theouter friction shoes 32 normally in engagement with the frictionsurfaces 34 of the casting 33. When said shoes are released by thespring under the action of a draft force as hereinafter described, saidshoes are prevented from being displaced by suitable connections to thearms 36 which in the form shown comprise lugs 44 on the upper and lowerends of the shoes, the shoes fitting between the arms 36 and said armsbeing notched as indicated by the dotted lines 45 in Fig. 1a to receivethe lugs 44. A similar connection is preferably made between the innerfriction shoes 32 and the arms 36.

The spring 31 is compressed against the follower plate 38 and thereforeagainst the outer friction shoes 32 on inward movement of the coupler,wedges and column by any suitable means-connected to one "of saidelements and adapted to engage the outer end of said spring. In the formshown, said outer end is seated in a recess formed in a casting 46 thebottom plate 41 of which constitutes a spring follower through which thelink 40 passes freely and theother end of which is provided with aflanged head 48 adapted to be engaged by the innerends of the wedgemeans 26. By this means the follower 4! is moved inwardly together withsaid coupler I5 and wedgemeans 26 to compress the spring 31 whichthereby affords resilient resistance to draft forces in addition tomaintaining the frictional engagement of the outer friction shoes 32with the wedges 26 and friction. surfaces 34. I

Similar means are provided for engaging the inner end of spring 31 onoutwardmovementof the coupler, wedges and column, under draft forces tocompress saidspring against the inner friction shoes 32. In the formshown, suit-able stops 49 are secured to the webs of the channels II, Hby means of rivets 50 and are disposed so as to engage the followerplate 38 on outward movement of the column. The casting 41 is normallyheld by the. wedge means 26 in a position wherein the follower 41 isspaced from the inner friction shoes'32 as shown at 5| in Fig. 1a.Outward movement of the column I I, II under a draft force, therefore,first compresses said spring against the wedges 26 and after said wedgeshave been moved outwardly a distance equal to the space 5I,.said,follower 41 engages the inner friction shoes 32. In the meantime stops3| of the column, II engage the flanges 30 of the, head 28whereby saidwedges 26 continue to move outwardly as a unit with the column II, IIbut the spring 31 is then compressed against the inner friction shoes32, maintaining frictional engagement between said shoes and the wedges26 and friction surfaces 35 whereby draft forces are resisted bothresiliently and frictionally.

In operation, when a bufling force is applied to the coupler I5, saidcoupler first moves inwardly relative to the column II, 'II through alimited extent which provides train slack. This movement of the coupleris resisted frictionally by frictionbetween the outer surfaces of thewedges 26 and the inner surfaces of the webs of the channels II, II andby the outer friction shoes 32 which are wedged between the wedges 26and the friction surfaces 34, and resiliently by compression of thespring 31 against the follower plate 38,due to the engagement of thewedges 26 with the head .48 of the follower .41.

When the coupler I5 has traveled inwardly relative to the columnsufficiently to engage the flanges 36 with the steps 3|, the coupler,column and wedges thereafter move inwardly as a unit,

continuing the compression of the spring and also the frictionalresistance of the outer fric-,

tion shoes 32. Movement of the column can continue throughout apredetermined distance which in the form shown is limited by stops 52secured to the column II and adapted to engage the outer face of thecenter brace casting It]. This movement of the column, which absorbsbuffing shocks, is preferably made long as compared with theconventional draft gear in order to protect the car body against highforces and, for example, the travel of the column may be of the order-of seven to nine inches, although it will be understoodthat :largertravelmay be ,;provided when desirable ,-,sinc e v this-"cushioningtravel is independent' of the coupler travel which provides train-slack.As soonas the bumng force has been absorbed, the spring 31 expands andreturns-the parts to the position shown in the drawings The return ofthe column'll, II to normal position is snubbed frictionally by theouter friction shoes 32 which are subject to the compressionof thespring 3'], whereby excessive recoil is avoided.

Wh'en a' dr'aft force is appliedto the coupler I-5 at theend of the carsho'wnin the drawings, the column H, II is moved outwardly without slackmovement of said coupler relative thereto. Stops 49 engage the followerplate 38 and compress spring 31 against the wedges 26, moving saidwedges outwardly until the follower 41 engages the inner friction shoes32. Movement of the column II, II also results in the engagement ofstops 3| with flanges 36 of the head 28 whereby the wedges 26 and columnII, II move outwardly asaunit and this movement of the column isresisted resiliently'by compression of spring 37 as well as by the innerfriction shoes 32 that are wedged by said spring between the wedges 26and the friction surfaces 35. Outward movement of column II, II cancontinue until limited by suitable meanssuch as stops 53 secured to thechannels, I I andadapted to engage the inner face of the center bracecasting I6, the extent of this outward movement for cushioning draftforces being preferably equal to the inward movement provided forcushioning bufling forces. When the draft force has been absorbed,spring 31 expands and restores the parts to the position shown in thedrawings. This return movement of the column is snubbed by thefrictional resistance of the inner friction shoes 32 whereby excessiverecoil is prevented.

It will be understood that a similar cushion gear ispreferably providedat the opposite end of the car. Hence draft and buffing forces areresisted at both ends of the car, the action of a bufling force on theend of the car shown in the drawings being the same as that of a draftforce applied to the other end of the car, and vice versa. Hence ineither direction. of

movement at either end of the car, the total tural unit and constitutesa housing for the" cushion gear with which it can be assembled andinstalled as a unit. With shoes 32 and spring 31 in place and saidspring installed under initial compression, the combined bolster,housing and gear are a unit that is self-contained and ready forinstallation as a unit in a car for use with a draft and bufiing column.From this aspect of the invention, wedges 26 and other parts 'of theconstruction are not necessary and can be omitted in some cases, thefriction shoes engaging directly on the column itself.

It will furtherbe apparent that the invention provides novel cushioningmeans. that are simple in construction and occupy small space,

being substantially between the bolster and the end of the car. At thesame time the cushionwith low forces on the car body. The friction meansdescribed act not only to absorb said draft and bufimg forces but alsoto provide a snubbing action which prevents excessive recoil of thecolumn in returning to normal position under the action of the spring.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been described andillustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that the invention iscapable of a variety of mechanical embodiments many of which will now beapparent to those skilled in the art, and that changes may be made inthe form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts, allwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference isaccordingly to be had to the appended claims for a definition of thelimits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car, the combination. of a column movable longitudinallyrelative to the car body under draft and bufiing shocks, a couplermounted at the end of the column for movement of limited extent relativethereto, wedge means frictionally engaging said column and movablerelative thereto by said coupler throughout said limited extent, bothsaid wedge means and column being moved by said coupler when saidcoupler moves beyond said limited extent, friction shoes engaging saidwedge means, means holding said shoes against longitudinal movement, andresilient means operatively interposed between said friction shoes andcolumn for resisting movement of said column and for maintainingfrictional engagement between said shoes and wedge means.

2. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a column movablelongitudinally relative thereto under draft and bufiing shocks, acoupler mounted at the end of the column for movement of limited extentrelative thereto, wedge means in frictional engagement with said column,means whereby said coupler moves said wedge means relative to saidcolumn throughout said limited extent and moves both said wedge meansand column when said coupler moves beyond said limited extent, frictionshoes held against longitudinal movement and disposed between thebolster and coupler in engagement with said wedge means, and resilientmeans disposed at least in part between said bolster and coupler, saidresilient means being operatively interposed between said friction shoesand column for resistin movement of said column and formaintainingfrictional engagement between said shoes and wedge means.

3. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a column movablelongitudinally relative thereto under draft and buffing shocks, acoupler mounted at the end of said column for movement of limited extentrelative thereto, wedge means extending inwardly from said coupler andmovable therewith relative to said column throughout said limitedextent, means for moving both said wedge means and column by saidcoupler when the latter moves beyond said limited extent, friction shoesheld against substantial longitudinal movement and disposed between saidbolster and coupler in engagement with said wedge means, and resilientmeans disposed in part between said shoes and bolster and extendingthrough an opening in said bolster, said resilient means beingoperatively interposed between said friction shoes and column forresisting movement of said column and for maintaining frictionalengagement between said shoes and wedge means.

4. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a column movablelongitudinally relative thereto under draft and buffing shocks, acoupler mounted at the end of said column for movement of limited extentrelative thereto, wedge means extending inwardly from said coupler andconnected therewith for movement relative to said column throughout saidlimited extent, means for moving both said wedge means and column bysaid coupler when the latter moves beyond said limited extent, frictionshoes held against substantial longitudinal movement and disposedbetween the bolster and coupler in engagement with said wedge means,resilient means disposed inwardly of said shoes and extending through anopening in said bolster, means operatively connecting said coupler withone end of said resilient means for compressing the same on movement ofsaid coupler, and means operatively connecting the other end of saidresilient means with said shoes whereby compression maintains said shoesin engagement with said wedge means.

5. In a railway car, the combination of a column movable longitudinallyrelative to the car body under draft and buffing shocks, a couplermounted at the end of said column for movement of limited extentrelative thereto, wedge means frictionally engaging said column andmovable relative thereto by said coupler throughout said limited extent,means for moving both said wedge means and column by said coupler whenthe latter moves beyond said limited extent, friction shoes engagingsaid wedge means, means holding said shoes against substantial1ongitudinal movement, resilient means operatively connected to saidfriction shoes for maintaining frictional engagement of said shoes withsaid wedges and of said wedges with said column, and means operativelyconnecting said coupler and resilient means whereby the latter iscompressed during said movement of limited extent relative to saidcolumn and also during said movement of both said wedge means andcolumn.

6. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a column movablelongitudinally relative thereto under draft and buffing shocks, acoupler mounted at the end of said column for movement of limitedextent-relative thereto, wedge means frictionally engaging said columnand movable relative thereto by said coupler throughout said limitedextent, means for moving both said wedge means and column by saidcoupler when the latter moves beyond said limited extent, friction shoesdisposed between said coupler and bolster in engagement with said wedgemeans, means holding said shoes against substantial longitudinalmovement, resilient means disposed inwardly of said shoes. and extendingthrough an opening in said bolster, and means operatively interposingsaid resilient means between said coupler and said shoes whereby saidresilient means is compressed on movement of said coupler to maintainfrictional engagement of said shoes with said wedge means and of saidwedge means with said column.

7. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a column movablelongitudinally relative thereto under draft and buffing shocks, acoupler mounted at the end of said column for movement of limited extentrelative thereto, wedge means frictionally engaging said column andmovable relative thereto by said coupler throughout said limited extent,means for moving both 75 J said wedge means and column by said couplerwhen the latter moves beyond said limited extent, friction shoesengaging said wedge means, means for holding said shoes againstsubstantial longitudinal and lateral movement andcomprising stationaryfriction surfaces engaging said shoes, and resilient means operativelyengaging said shoes, and means operatively connecting said resilientmeans and coupler.

8. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a column movablelongitudinally relative thereto under draft and buffing shocks, aconpler mounted at the end of said column for movement of limited extentrelative thereto, wedge means frictionally engaging said column andmovable relative thereto by said coupler throughout said limited extent,means for moving both said wedge means and column by said coupler whenthe latter moves beyond said limited extent, friction shoes engagingsaid wedge means, means connected to said bolster for holding said shoesagainst substantial longitudinal and lateral movement and comprisingstationary friction surfaces engaging said shoes and resilient meansoperatively engaging said shoes, and means operatively connecting saidresilient means and conpler.

9. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a column movablelongitudinally relative thereto under draft and buffing shocks, acoupler mounted at the end of said column for movement of limited extentrelative thereto, wedge means frictionally engaging said column andmovable relative thereto by said coupler throughout said limited extent,means for moving both said wedge means and column by said coupler whenthe latter moves beyond said limited extent, friction shoes engagingsaid wedge means, means connected to said bolster for holding said shoesagainst substantial longitudinal and lateral movement and comprisingstationary fricton surfaces engaging said shoes and resilient meanshaving one end operatively connected to said shoes, and meansoperatively connecting the other end of said resilient means with saidwedge means.

10. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a columnmovable longitudinally relative thereto under draft and bufling shocks,a coupler mounted at the end of said column for movement of limitedextent relative thereto, wedge 'm'eans frictionally engaging said columnand movable relative thereto by said coupler throughout said limitedextent, means for moving both said wedge means and column by saidcoupler when the latter moves beyond said limitedextent, friction shoesengaging said wedge means, means connected to said bolster for holdingsaid shoes against substantial longitudinal and lateral movement andcomprising stationary friction surfaces engaging said shoes andresilient means disposed inwardly of said shoes and extending through anopening in said bolster, means operatively connecting one end of saidresilient means with said shoes, and means operatively connecting theother end with said coupler.

11. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a columnmovable longitudinally relative,

thereto under draft and buffing shocks, a coupler mounted at the end ofsaid column for movement of limited extent relative thereto, wedge meansfrictionally engaging said column and movable relative thereto by saidcoupler throughout said limited extent, means for moving both said wedgemeans and column by said coupler when the latter moves beyond saidlimited extent, horizontally extending arms on said bolster connected attheir ends by vertical walls, friction shoes held against substantiallongitudinal movement and mounted for engagement with said verticalwalls and having friction surfaces engaging said wedge means, andresilient means housed between said arms and operatively interposedbetween said friction shoes and column for resistg ing movement of saidcolumn and for maintaining frictional engagement of said shoes with saidWedge means. H

12. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a columncomprising spaced vertical walls and movable longitudinally relative tosaid bolster, a coupler mounted at the end of said column for movementof limited extent relative thereto, wedge means comprising spacedvertical surfaces one engaging each of said walls and movable by saidcoupler relative thereto throughout said limited extent, said membershaving inner wedge surfaces, means for moving'both said wedge means andsaid column, when said coupler moves beyond said limited extent,friction shoes between said members and in engagementwith' said wedgesurfaces, means for holding said shoes against substantial longitudinalmovement, and resilient means operatively interposed between saidfriction shoes and column for resisting movement of said column and formaintaining frictional engagement of said shoes with said wedgesurfaces.

13. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a columncomprising spaced vertical walls and movable longitudinally relativeto-said bolster, a coupler mounted at the end of said column formovement of limited extent relative thereto, wedge means comprisingspaced vertical surfaces one engaging each of said walls and movable bysaid coupler relative thereto throughout said limited extent, saidmembers having inner wedge surfaces, means for moving both said wedgemeans and said column when said coupler moves beyond said limitedextent, stationary friction means between said members and havingsurfaces inclined to said wedge suI-.'

each having a vertical surface engaging one of said walls, the bight ofthe U operatively engaging said coupler for movement therebyrelative tosaid column throughout said limited extent, said legs having inner wedgesurfaces, friction shoes between said wedge surfaces, means holding saidshoes against substantial longitudinal movement, resilient meansoperatively interposed between said shoes and column, and means formoving both said column and wedge means when said coupler moves beyondsaidvlimit-ed extent;

15. In a railway car, the combination of .a body bolster, a columncomprising spaced vertical walls and movable longitudinally relativethereto, a coupler mounted on said column for movement .of limitedextent relative thereto, a substantially U-shaped wedge meanscomprising. spaced legs each having a vertical surface engaging one ofsaid walls, the b ight of the U operatively engaging said coupler formovement thereby relative to said column throughout said limited extent,said legs having inner wedge surfaces, friction shoes between said wedgesurfaces, means holding said shoes against substantial longitudinalmovement, resilient means, a follower for one end of said resilientmeans and engaged by said legs, means operatively connecting the otherend of said wedge means with said friction shoes, and means operativelyconnecting said wedge means and column for movement together after saidwedge means moves through said limited extent.

16. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a columncomprising spaced vertical walls and movable longitudinally relative tosaid bolster, a coupler mounted at the end of said column for movementof limited extent relative thereto, wedge means comprising spacedvertical surfaces one engaging each of said walls and movable by saidcoupler relative thereto throughout said limited extent, said membershaving inner wedge surfaces, means for moving both said wedge means andsaid column when said coupler moves beyond said limited extent,horizontally extending arms extending from said bolster and connected attheir ends by vertical walls, friction shoes held against substantiallongitudinal movement and mounted for engagement with said walls andhaving friction surfaces engaging said wedge means, resilient meanshoused between said arms and operatively engaging said shoes, and meansoperatively connecting said resilient means and coupler.

17. In a railway car, the combination of a body bolster, a columncomprising spaced vertical walls and movable longitudinally relative tosaid bolster, a coupler mounted at the end of said column for movementof limited extent relative thereto, wedge means comprising spacedvertical surfaces one engaging each of said walls and movable by vsaidcoupler relative thereto throughout said limited extent, said membershaving inner wedge surfaces, means for moving both said wedge means andcolumn when said coupler moves beyond said limited extent, horizontallyextending arms on said bolster connected by vertical walls forming astationary friction means, friction shoes on the inner and outer sidesof said friction means in frictional engagement with the same and withsaid wedge surfaces, resilient means housed between said arms andoperatively connected with said shoes for urging the inner or outershoes as the column moves in one or the other direction, and meansoperatively connecting said resilient means and coupler.

18. In a railway car of the'type having a body bolster and a draft andbufiing column movable longitudinally relative thereto, combined bolsterand cushion gear means comprising bolster construction and spaced wallsextending longitudinally therefrom and connected adjacent their ends bytransverse walls, and cushion gear means housed by said walls andcomprising resilient means and operative connections to said walls formaintaining said resilient means under compression.

19. In a railway car of the type having a body bolster and a draft andbuffing column movable longitudinally relative thereto, combined bolsterand cushion gear means comprising bolster construction having an openingtherethrough, spaced walls extending longitudinally from said bolsterconstruction at the sides of said opening, transverse walls connectingsaid longitudinal walls adjacent their ends, and cushioning means housedin said opening and by said Walls, said cushioning means comprising aspring and operative connections to said walls for maintaining saidspring under compression.

20. In a railway car of the type having a body bolster and a draft andbuffing column movable longitudinally relative thereto, combined bolsterand cushion gear means comprising bolster construction and spaced wallsextending longitudinally therefrom and connected adjacent their ends bytransverse Walls, cushioning means housed by said walls and comprisingfriction shoes and a spring maintaining the. same in engagement withsaid transverse walls, and operative connections from said spring tosaid walls whereby said spring is maintained under compression.

21. In a railway car of the type having a body bolster and a draft andbuffing column movable longitudinally relative thereto, combined bolsterand cushion gear means comprising bolster construction and spaced wallsextending longitudinally therefrom and connected adjacent their ends bytransverse walls, cushioning means housed by said walls and comprisingfriction shoes engaging said transverse walls on the inner and outersides thereof, a spring disposed between said longitudinal walls andengaging said inner shoes at one end, and means operatively connectingthe other end to said outer shoes whereby said spring is interposedunder compression between the-inner and outer shoes.

22. In a railway car of the type having a body bolster and a draft andbuffing column movable longitudinally relative thereto, combined bolsterand cushion gear means comprising bolster construction having an openingtherethrough, walls extending longitudinally from said bolster at thesidesof said opening, transverse walls connecting said longitudinalwalls adjacent their ends, and cushion gear means housed in said openingand walls and comprising friction shoes engaging said transverse wallsand a spring extending into said opening and operatively connected atone end to said walls, said spring being compressed and its other endbearing against said shoes.

23. In a railway car of the type having a body bolster and a draft andbuffing column movable longitudinally relative thereto, combined bolsterand cushion gear means comprising bolster construction having an openingtherethrough, walls extending longitudinally from said bolster at thesides of said opening, transverse walls connecting said longitudinalwalls adjacent their ends, and cushion gear means housed in said openingand walls and comprising friction shoes engaging the inner and outersides of said transverse walls, a spring extending into said opening andengaging said inner shoes at one end, and means operatively connectingthe other end to said outer shoes.

OTHO' C. DURYEA.

